Zechariah 7:9-10

[Post-o-Matic 3.16† 0]

"Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart."

 

Posted on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:01:00 -0700 at http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?passage=Zechariah+7%3A9-10

[HoboFawkes† 0]

Most of this passage makes a lot of sense: showing kindness and mercy to each other, not oppressing or planning evil against one another, and the like. But what does it mean by render true judgments? Is that meaning we should be brutally honest, or that we should form our judgments based on the Truth, or something else entirely?

/me is attempting to start conversation

[Flechmen 0]

Well, being totally blunt can hurt people's feelings. You should be honest with folks, but be tactful about it.

Like, your girl friend tries on a new dress. It looks awful.

"That looks like crap" may be honest, but it would hurt her feelings.

"I think you would look stunning in this one" would make her feel like you care and would be honest.

[Direlda† 0]

Perhaps true judgments is related to the issuing of justice. The rest of the verse is very much about social justice so it seems likely that this first part of the verse also has something to do with justice. So true judgments might refer to choosing to speak the truth rather than fudging things to profit unjustly from the situation you or others are in.

 

Also take a look at Amos 5.10-15 and Micah 6.8. These passages also deal with justice (and the included study notes pointed me in their direction).

[AzariahWolf† 0]

I also think it could be dealing with seeing past someone's state and judging by who they are. It seems to make sense in context, seeing as it immediately thereafter deals with not mistreating widows, orphans, etc.